Switch apparatus.



I V. HEOHLER, III.

SWITCH APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5, 1911.

Patented Jan. 14, 1913.

Z SHEETSSHEET 1.

V. HEOHLER, III. SWITCH APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5, 1911.

Patented 'Jan. 14, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

gwoMom VALENTINE HECI-ILER, III, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

SWITCH APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 5, 1911.

Patented Jan. 14, 1913.

Serial No. 647,552.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VALENTINE HECHLER, III, a citizen of the United States, reresiding at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Switch Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to switch operating mechanism and more particularly to that type of mechanisms which are controlled or operated by the motor-man or conductor on the train passing over the tracks.

One of the principal objects of the invention is the provision of a simple and efficient device wherein the switch tongue may be thrown in either direction according to the way in which it is desired that the car or train travel.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means controlled by the operator of the car for throwing the switch tongue in a certain direction, which operation actuates the mechanism in such a manner that it is set for throwing the tongue in the 0pposite direction and the initially operated part is automatically disengaged from the car mechanism.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the following specific description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application and in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of the track and the switch operating mechanism and also showing the car platform and the mechanism thereon, which is controlled by the operator to work the track mechanism. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken through the track box. Fig. 3 is a transverse section therethrough. Fig. 4 is a detail top plan view. Fig. 5 is a top plan view showing a modified form.

In the specific embodiment of the invention as illustrated herein, 1 and 2 represent the main line rails, 3 and 4 the branch rails which are connected to the main rails in the usual manner by the frog 5, and the switch tongue 6.

Embedded in the center of the track adjacent the switch tongue is a box 7 having pivoted therein upon the stud 8 a switch tongue operating member 9, which is adapted to be connected to the switch tongue 6 by means of a bar 10, which is formed in two parts and which are adjustably con nected by means of bolts 11. The free end of the switch operating member 9 is supported upon a rod 12 bifurcated at its end to receive a bearing roller 13 which operates upon a rail plate 14 carried by the bottom of the box 7 Beyond the rod 12 the member is providedwith flared sides which form cam surfaces 15 adapted to be engaged by the sliding blocks 16. These blocks 16 are provided with T-grooves 17 adapted to receive the T rails 18 carried upon the inclined platform 19 which are supported above the bottom of the box by the braces 20, their high end being hinged at 21 and supported by springs 22 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The upper portion of the block is provided with a groove 23 in which is removably seated a projecting finger 24 having an inclined face 25 and a centered shoulder 26, this shoulder projecting through slots 27 formed in the top plate 28 and disappearing below the top of the plate when the blocks are moved down the inclined platforms 19 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The blocks 16 are tapered or wedge-shaped so as to conform with the cam faces 15 of the tongue operating member 9.

The car plat-form is indicated at 29 and depending therefrom adjacent its forward end are bars 30 upon which are slidably mounted the sleeves 31 having finger engaging projections 32 carried thereby. These sleeves are flexibly connected to the short end of the operating levers 33 by means of the links 34, and are normally held in raised position by means of hooks 35 under which the levers are adapted to be engaged from pivotal points upon the platforms, being sufficiently loose to permit lateral movement of their long ends.

The blocks 16 are flexibly connected to each other by means of the cable 36 which passes around pulleys 37 and 38 carried by the end of the box 7, so that as one is moved down the incline upon which it is mounted the other is moved up the incline. In other words as one is operated to throw the switch the other is set in position for the next operation so that the switch can be thrown reversely from the first movement thereof. By disengaging the proper lever 33 on the car the proper projection 32 will be dropped into the path of the proper finger 25 and as the car moves over the tracks the proper block will be actuated or moved down its incline so as to throw the operating lever 9 and the switch tongue in the proper direction. It is not necessary to raise the projection until after the switch has been fully operated because as the block moves down the incline it gradually lowers itself and disappears through its slot and thereby disengages itself from the projection 32.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 5, the blocks 16 are connected together by the cable 36, which in this instance passes over the pulley 39 slidably mounted over the base and connected thereto by a spring 40. The pulley 39 is actuated by a wheel 41 which travels in a way 42 formed in the base 43 of the box and the blocks are adapted to abut when in normal position against buffers a l. In this type of device the blocks are always held against the buffers in the position shown by means of the spring to, so that when one is operated the pulley 39 will travel in a direct-ion opposite to the direction of movement of the block and when the block is released by having its finger disappear as before stated the spring will return the block to normal position. With this type of device it is immaterial whether the switch has been hand operated or not. The inclined ways are arranged with a hinge section as shown so that when the blocks are upon the hinge section and at their highest point, they will be readily depressed by a wagon or other vehicles passing thereover.

Having thus described the invent-ion what I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described the combination with a switch tongue and a pivoted member connected thereto and having opposite cam faces, wedge-shaped blocks slidably mounted upon opposite sides of the pivoted member and adapted to engage the cam faces thereof and flexible connection between the blocks, inclined tracks for sup porting the blocks, said tracks each having a vertically movable section and independ' ently operable oar carried means for mov ing either of the blocks over its inclined track.

2. In a device of the class described the combination with a switch tongue, and a box, a pivoted member arranged in the box, and connected with the switch tongue, inclined tracks mounted in the box, a slotted top box, reciprocally mounted blocks carried upon tracks having fingers adapted to project through the box when at the highest point on the tracks and to disappear through the slots when at the lowest point on the tracks, said blocks adapted to throw the pivot member to either direction, car carried lever operated means for engaging the fingers on the blocks to operate the same over the tracks, said blocks automatically disengaging themselves from the finger engaging means as they move over the tracks, and a flexible connection between the blocks whereby when one block is operated to throw the pivoted member, the other block is retracted and placed in position for second operation of the tongue in a reverse direction.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a switch tongue and a pivoted member connected thereto, wedgeshaped blocks mounted on opposite sides of the pivoted member and having grooves in their upper and lower surfaces, inclined tracks fitted in the lower grooves of the blocks and supporting said blocks thereon, means removably seated in the upper groove of one of said blocks, a flexible connection between the blocks, and independent means for operating either one of the blocks.

4c- In a device of the class described, the combination with a switch tongue, of a box, means mounted in said box for operating said switch tongue, said means comprising a pivoted switch tongue operating mechanism, adjustable means connecting said switch tongue with said switch tongue operating mechanism, wedge-shaped blocks mounted on opposite sides of said pivoted switch tongue operating mechanism, inclined supporting means mounted in said box and parallel with the side walls thereof, inclined tracks for supporting the blocks mounted upon said supporting means, a flexible connection between the blocks, independent means for operating either one of the blocks, a portion of the said inclined supporting means being yieldably supported.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a switch tongue, of a box having a rail plate mounted therein, means mounted in said box for operating said switch tongue, said means comprising a pivoted switch tongue operating mechanism having its free end bifurcated, means connected with the free end of said pivoted switch tongue mechanism adapted to operate within said box upon said track, adjustable means connecting said switch tongue with said switch tongue operating mechanism,'wedge-shaped blocks mounted on opposite sides of said pivoted switch tongue operating mechanism, inclined tracks for supporting the blocks, a flexible connection between the blocks, and independent means for operating either one of the blocks.

6. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a switch tongue, and a said cam faces for operating either one of pivoted member connected thereto wedgethe blocks.

shaped blocks mounted on opposite sides of In testimony whereof I afiix my signature the pivoted member, inclined tracks for supin presence of two witnesses.

porting the blocks, said pivoted member be- VALENTINE HECHLER, III. ing provided with cam faces adapted to co- Witnesses:

operate with said wedge-shaped blocks, and GEO. MCSWEENEY,

a flexible connection between the blocks and J. J. KENNEDY, Jr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

